CdM loses to Wilson in a shootout
Corona del Mar's No. 3 boys water polo team showed a strong offensive repertoire Tuesday.
The Sea Kings' defense didn't shine as bright but an up-tempo showdown with Long Beach Wilson helped explain the offensive explosion at Belmont Plaza in Long Beach.
Long Beach Wilson built a four-goal lead in the fourth period and then held off Corona del Mar for a 16-15 victory in a pairing of last season's CIF-SS Division 2 finalists.
Corona del Mar's Danny Marshall scored off a foul outside 5 meters with 22 seconds left but Long Beach Wilson ran out the clock to seal the victory in the matchup of teams now residing in Division 1.
"I'm a little (upset) we gave up that many goals but it was a good game," Corona del Mar coach Barry O'Dea said. "I think both these teams will be hard matchups for anybody in the division."
The score was locked, 9-9, early in the third when the Bruins (2-1), last season's Division 2 champion, rattled off three consecutive goals to take control.
Junior Murphy Slater netted two of the goals and finished with a team-high five.
Long Beach Wilson still led, 12-9, when it lost standout Max Irving. The senior fouled out with 3:51 left in the third after picking up an exclusion and interference on the Sea Kings' ensuing power play.
Corona del Mar (1-1) almost cut the deficit to one with 1:01 left in the fourth but its man-advantage chance appeared to hit off a side-post. Reid Chase paced Corona del Mar with six goals while Marshall and Jack Harryman each added three apiece.
Long Beach Wilson coach Tony Martinho said both teams pushed hard for the counterattack chances, driving the score high. "I thought both teams swam really hard," he said.
In other matches:
Santa Margarita 14, No. 9 Huntington Beach 13 (OT): Dane Petersen scored four goals and goalie Ryan Melosini made 15 saves for the host Eagles (3-4).
No. 1 Mater Dei 14, Harvard-Westlake of North Hollywood 5: Goalie McQuin Baron made 15 saves and brothers Jon and James Walters combined for eight goals to lead the visiting Monarchs (6-0). Mater Dei has won 54 consecutive matches.
No. 10 Northwood 14, Fountain Valley 4: Jason Lee and Billy Monjay each scored four goals to lead the host Timberwolves (3-1).
Troy 8, La Serna 7 (OT): Goalie Sam Feaster made 19 saves to lead the host Warriors (6-0).
Servite 11, Montebello 9: Sophomore Max Weber scored four goals and Matt Hoertz made 11 saves to lead the host Friars (1-1).
Contact the writer: dalbano@ocregister.com
